A dedicated ski patroller tragically lost his life serving others, highlighting the dangerous sacrifices made by those who protect outdoor enthusiasts in America’s wilderness areas.
Story Highlights
- Cole Murphy, 30, died from injuries sustained in avalanche during safety mitigation work
- Incident occurred at Mammoth Mountain during extreme weather conditions with over five feet of snow
- Second patroller injured but survived the December 26th avalanche on Lincoln Mountain
- Mountain suspended operations due to high avalanche danger following severe California storm system
Fatal Incident During Safety Operations
Cole Murphy, a 30-year-old ski patroller at Mammoth Mountain, died from injuries sustained while performing avalanche mitigation work on December 26, 2025. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Lincoln Mountain, before the resort opened to the public.
Murphy and a fellow patroller were conducting essential safety operations when an avalanche struck their location. Resort officials transported Murphy to a hospital outside the area for advanced medical care, but he succumbed to his injuries on December 28.
BREAKING UPDATE 🚨🚨#MammothMountain #California
Mammoth Mountain Resort has confirmed that 1 of the Ski Patrol members injured in an avalanche on Friday has passed away as a result of injuries sustained. Cole Murphy was 30 years old. Attached is a message from his family. https://t.co/ZzbS3S5Ksr pic.twitter.com/yHH2GH0zKF
— OC Scanner 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 (@OC_Scanner) December 29, 2025
Dangerous Conditions Following Severe Weather
The avalanche occurred after Mammoth Mountain received more than five feet of snow within a 72-hour period. The same weather system brought relentless winds, rain, and heavy snowfall across California, creating extremely hazardous conditions.
Resort management suspended all skiing operations on Friday due to high avalanche danger and kept the mountain closed on Saturday. These decisive safety measures demonstrate the serious nature of the conditions that patrollers like Murphy faced while ensuring public safety.
Second Patroller Injured in Same Incident
The second ski patroller involved in the avalanche sustained injuries and was being evaluated for possible broken bones. While this patroller survived the incident, the occurrence highlights the inherent risks faced by mountain safety professionals.
These dedicated individuals put themselves in harm’s way to protect recreational skiers and snowboarders. Their work involves deliberately triggering avalanches in controlled conditions to prevent larger, more dangerous slides that could threaten resort visitors.
Pattern of Avalanche Risks at High-Altitude Resort
This tragedy marks the second fatal avalanche involving a Mammoth Mountain ski patroller in less than a year. In February 2025, another patroller died while conducting similar mitigation work.
Mammoth Mountain operates as California’s highest lift-served resort, with its summit reaching 11,053 feet in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains near Yosemite National Park.
Lincoln Peak, where the recent incident occurred, features a volcanic dome with avalanche chutes created by historical landslides, forming a horseshoe-shaped bowl that presents ongoing safety challenges.
